The Challengers are summoned to a museum. A mirror and chart have been stolen by Hillary Mycroft and his gang. The mirror was fashioned by Kregon the Sorcerer to show where "the ancients" hid their most potent secrets. The chart shows where the secrets are hidden. The Challengers break into Mycroft's hideout, but Mycroft gets away in a plane. Prof tests the mirror and reveals three destinations: the sea bottom, a stone needle, and Sinbad's Island. The boys split up. Prof dives in the sea and finds Mycroft's thugs stealing the prize: a gold ball with rods stuck through it. A sea serpent attacks. Prof jiggles a rod. Gaseous hands hurl the serpent away. Meanwhile, Red climbs the dangerous needle prominence and finds the second gold ball with rods. In a dream, a genie warns him to descend through hidden caves. Red meets Mycroft's thugs, who steal the ball - but Red keeps one rod. Rocky and Ace fly to Sinbad's Island and find Mycroft and the gold ball, when they're seized by a roc: a giant bird! Ace jiggles a rod. A gaseous armored torso appears. The roc flies off and the boys float to safety. Mycroft explains: the three balls hooked together will summon a genie! Mycroft assembles the globes, but they explode! Red, unseen, pulled a single rod and bollixed the assembly!

Indexer Notes

Credits updated 10/06 by Bob Hughes. Previously inker listed as Marvin Stein. Per Stein's conversations with Greg Theakston, he did not ink any Challengers stories. Nick Caputo believes Kirby did not ink this story, citing the slick inking that is vastly different than Kirby's identified inks. After studying the work of a number of artists working for editor Jack Schiff in this period, Nick suspects it may be the work of Leonard Starr.

The Challengers and June have been summoned to a lab. A monkey shows super abilities. It was given a pill derived from a meteorite, then boosted into space. The Challengers draw straws. Rocky takes the pill and rockets into space - unaware the monkey has lapsed into a coma. The rocket crashes. Rocky emerges with super powers, but is insane! He brushes off his fellows with freeze rays, super strength, and invisibility. The Challengers broadcast a warning that Rocky is dangerous. A crook named Chopper takes Rocky in: with his super-help, they can rob banks. But Chopper's lies can't overcome Rocky's basic decency. He refuses to kill a nearby hunter. When the Challengers and June appear, and crooks would shoot, Rocky shocks them. He's grazed by a bullet as the Challengers pound the thugs. Rocky recovers his memory, and his powers have faded. "This assignment was one big headache."

Indexer Notes

This story is considered a dry run for Fantastic Four #1. Rocky is shot into space, crashes, then exhibits super-strength, invisibility, fire powers, and giant growth. Credits updated 10/06 by Bob Hughes. Previously inker listed as Marvin Stein. Per Stein's conversations with Greg Theakston, he did not ink any Challengers stories. Nick Caputo believes Kirby did not ink this story, citing the slick inking that is vastly different than Kirby's identified inks. After studying the work of a number of artists working for editor Jack Schiff in this period, Nick suspects it may be the work of Leonard Starr.